Doors remain open for food and basic necessities to our community’s growing homeless and hungry
Lauderhill, Florida, April 14, 2020] – As each day presents new personal challenges for all of us during this unprecedented global health crisis, LifeNet4Families doors remain open for those in our community experiencing hunger, homelessness and poverty.
Last month, we made the difficult decision to operate without our volunteers, a necessary step to minimize risks for volunteers, staff and clients. On a daily basis, our team collectively:
- Provides hot nutritious to-go meals to 300 people each day, and growing
- Distributes more than 100 bags daily filled with groceries and produce to low-income individuals, families and
seniors who are struggling to make ends meet
- Disseminates mail to countless homeless clients who rely on LifeNet4Families for postal services daily, including
checks and other key mail pieces
- Issues hygiene bags to people who are surviving on the streets or in their vehicles
- Facilitates access to restrooms, hand-washing stations, and showers daily
These are vital services that help to ensure the health and well-being of the most vulnerable among us. We are also
providing emotional support, updated information, and reassurance to so many who are afraid, anxious and isolated.
And, the support does not stop there. We are:
- Supporting COVID-19 Front Line Heroes
LifeNet4Families is always working on innovative solutions that help to avoid duplication of services. LifeNet launched Essentials 4 Essentials—providing food boxes to those working in supermarkets, fast food restaurants, and convenience stores in Lauderhill and Plantation. Many have been unable to attend the foodgiveaways because they occur while they are at work. Next week, we’ll be in a city near you!
- Providing Nutritious Snacks for the Youth, we have expanded our Summer Food Box Program that typically helps over 1,000 school-age children and their families receive healthy, easy-to-prepare food during the summer months. Realizing that our youth will
be home-bound for an extended period of time, our Pantry Team has been working with nearby Title I school administrators to get food boxes out to families now, when they are most needed.
- Working together within our community to support our clients in real-time
Take, Amalia and her 17-year old son Anthony. Anthony is only 17 and lost his part-time jobs due to COVID-19. Amalia is an insulin-dependent diabetic and needs to keep her meds refrigerated. She uses a small cooler and relies on fast food restaurants for ice, although it has been difficult to get restaurants to provide ice at the drive-thru window. They found LifeNet4Families, where they immediately received ice, a hot meal and a gift
card for Walmart to get a better cooler and reusable ice packs.
Within 24-hours, our President and CEO had reached out to her extended network and worked with Christine Fredrick, CEO of the FLITE Center, to place the family into an Extended Stay hotel for a few days. LifeNet provided them with food boxes, snack bags, and Publix gift cards for the purchase of food and other necessities
and FLITE will assist them with temporary housing and housing placement.
Dr. Melanie Geddes, President and CEO at LifeNet4Families, remains optimistic: “These are just a few of the many wonderful examples of how much we can accomplish when we work together for the greater good.” She added, “Recognizing that we have a long road ahead of us, we remain committed to identifying viable and sustainable solutions to support the health and well-being of our clients and staff alike.”
As more individuals become displaced due to COVID-19, we will need the support of our community more than ever to
meet the growing demand. Interested in supporting our ongoing COVID-19 Relief efforts? Consider:
- Making a Financial Donation
Donors may do so online at lifenet4families.org or mailing it directly to: LifeNet4Families, 1 NW 33rd Terrace Lauderhill, FL 33311
- Donating Protective Equipment and Supplies, Disposable gloves, CDC-recommended protective gear (such as N95 face masks or face shields), hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, individual toiletry kits and/or gift cards for clients to obtain basic necessitie
We are thankful to all who donate so that we can continue to support the unsheltered and vulnerable during these times.
For information on services available and opportunities to get involved, visit lifenet4families.org, call (954) 792-2328, or connect with us on social media @lifenet4families for real-time updates.
